But the writer of Hebrews has saved the most amazing example for last. What sustained the greatest act of love that has ever been performed in the history of the world—the agonizing death of Jesus in our place? The answer is the same: “[Fix your] eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2).
The greatest labor of love that ever happened was possible because Jesus pursued the greatest imaginable joy, namely, the joy of being exalted to God’s right hand in the assembly of a redeemed people. For the joy that was set before Him, He endured the cross!
Christian Hedonism is utterly committed to loving like Jesus. We do not presume to live by motives greater than the ones He lived by. What hinders love in the world today? Is it that we are all trying to please ourselves? No! It is because we are all too easily pleased.
The message that needs to be shouted from the housetops is: Listen, world! You are not nearly hedonistic enough! You are far too easily pleased. You are like children making mud pies in the slum because you cannot imagine what a holiday at the sea is like. Stop laying up for yourselves treasures on earth where moth and rust consume and where thieves break in and steal. Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven! (Matthew 6:19-20).
Quit being satisfied with little 2-percent yields of pleasure that get eaten up by the moths of inflation and the rust of death. Invest in the blue-chip, high-yield, divinely insured securities of heaven. Giving your life to material comforts and thrills is like throwing money down a rat hole. But a life invested in the labor of love yields dividends of joy unsurpassed and unending—even if it costs you your property and your life on this earth.
Come to Christ in whose presence are fullness of joy and pleasures forever more. Join the labor of Christian Hedonism. For the Lord of heaven and earth, Jesus Christ, has spoken: It is more blessed to love than to live in luxury!
The Dangerous Duty of Delight. John Piper